DEAD SEED (AKA "Vampires Don't Exist")

Thirty: A Different Kind of Ever After (Final)

It was a crisp autumn night, four years after the birth of Aralyn and Aimeric's son, Julian. The moon was shining brightly over the local cemetery; silver light flooded the gray and white headstones with breathtaking macabre beauty.

Aralyn was dodging between the headstones, her laughter echoing through the cool air. Brown leaves crunched beneath her bare feet; her shoes sat on the blanket beneath an old oak tree where Aimeric watched his two loves play. Julian giggled at Aralyn, who was playing peek-a-boo with him. He could walk now, though still shaky as toddlers were. Black curls fell into his striking eyes as he watched his mother with glee. He had a plump face with crimson lips and tiny, needle-like fangs that protruded when he grinned, which was frequently — he was a happy child.

A falling leaf caught Julian's attention and he reached for it, falling on his bottom onto the blanket in front of Aimeric. He had forgotten the game of peek-a-boo. Julian played with the leaf, shaking it in the air and even trying a taste before making a face and spitting it out.

Aralyn wandered over to Aimeric and he pulled her into his lap, kissing her and nipping at her lower lip.

"Are you thirsty, my darling?" he asked.

"Always," she replied.

Aimeric grinned and handed her a thermos filled with the blood of one of the prisoners. Aralyn took it and drank. The blood was still warm. She wiped the sticky substance from her lips and then leaned against Aimeric's chest while they watched Julian gather up more fallen leaves. He had quite the collection now, though he kept dropping them and having to bend back down to pick them up.

"He's growing so quickly," Aralyn sighed.

"Yes," Aimeric agreed, a solemn tone to his voice.

"What will we do when he...." She couldn't bring herself to say it. Julian wasn't a normal human, but he would age and die one day. That day would come quickly.

"Don't think of it right now, darling. When his time comes to leave this realm, we will go with him. Together. As always. For now, let's just enjoy the short time we have together."

Aralyn nodded, fighting back tears. She didn't want to think of her baby boy dying. The only comfort she took now was knowing they had a few hundred years together before that time came. Still, in comparison to eternity, it seemed like only a few days away.

Julian had gathered up enough leaves now. He tossed them all into the air, giggling as they fell back down over his head. Once they had all settled on the ground, he looked over at his parents before wobbling his way to them. He fell into Aralyn's lap. She pulled him close to her chest and kissed his soft hair as he began to fall asleep.

"Perhaps we should take him home now," Aimeric suggested.

Aralyn shook her head. "Not yet. Let's stay like this for a little while."

Aimeric kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around his family. They lay together under the light of the moon until it was time for them to return home.

[The End]
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